subject: Choosing The Right Cardio Machine [print this page] When performing your cardiovascular activities, how do you decide which workouts and machines are best for your needs? Your body is the ultimate aerobic equipment whether the exercise is effective or not.
Many people find cardio exercise not very fun, especially avid weight lifters and those trying to gain muscle. If you have not done much research on this subject, you have come to the right place.
If you workout knowledgably, you can get the best workout possible, saving you hours of sweating and wasting away in the gym.
The main purpose of any aerobic mechanism is to raise your heart rate. With the best exercises you are not twiddling your thumbs or wasting time, rather you are moving the large muscles in your body which require a lot of oxygen which is circulated in your blood.
When you get your blood pumping, your heart rate rises to pump the blood to your working muscles. If you are out of shape and looking to get back into shape, your extremities may fatigue before your heart actually does.
If you have the knowledge about which cardio machines are best for your goals, you can maximize your cardiovascular exercise. So, how do you decide which aerobic machine is best for you?
The best cardio devices for your best friend may not be the same as yours. You already know that the most important aspect of successful aerobic activity is to raise the heart rate.
Even though you can raise your heart rate on any aerobic machine, there is a cardio apparatus which is best for you. It depends on a few factors.
Perhaps if you enjoy a particular appliance, it may be right for you. You will get more benefit out of the machines you end up using as opposed to the ones that you dread using.
Whether the aerobic piece of equipment exacerbates any physical problems, you must do everything in moderation. It holds true when using the best aerobic machines as well.
If you perform the same motion over and over again, it will lead to muscle imbalances which lead to static and dynamic posture problems. If you sit all day at work in front of a desk, the stationary bike is not the best choice for an exercise contraption.
If you have extremely bad knee problems, the stair master is most likely going to do more harm than good. Whether the cardio apparatus is consistent with your goals or not is another important factor.
If you are looking to burn fat, improve and maintain your cardiovascular fitness, all the best pieces of equipment will help you. If your goals are performance related, you predominantly want to use an aerobic machine that is most closely related to your given activity.
For example, if you play soccer, you will want to spend your aerobic activities doing running motions. However, a little versatility is never a bad idea.
Whether the apparatus is conductive or productive, you can still get good results. Some are just more difficult to perform exercises on.
They were first developed for training purposes, not as fat burning devices. Treadmills were used by people who could not get outside to run.
Rowing apparatuses were used by those who wanted to train their rowing ability without the inconvenience of getting to the river. So, remember to get outside where the real activity takes place when you can.
People started to become overweight at an alarming rate and the fitness revolution happened in the 1980s. Cardio machines were designed to simulate daily physical activities which could be done in place on a piece of equipment.
Later, in the 1990s, elliptical machines were designed specifically for non impact exercise. Ellipticals are great options because they burn a lot of calories while protecting the muscles and joints.
Many people have found success using elliptical trainers in their homes or at their local fitness centers. They are easy to use for most people.
So, if you are looking to get started with aerobic technology, this is a good place to start. Ellipticals are even safe and friendly to the elderly as they require no heavy pounding but a gentle motion instead.
The important thing is that you get your body moving. The best way to stay healthy is to stay active.